Atalanta beat Premier League giants Newcastle United to Rasmus Hojlund last summer and La Dea coach Gian Piero Gasperini believes he now has a striker ‘very similar’ to Erling Haaland at his disposal, speaking to Football Italia.
If you squinted a little, you’d have struggled to tell the difference between Hojlund and Haaland as the former emulated the latter against Lazio on Saturday afternoon; turning on the afterburners and breezing past two defenders. Going from the centre circle to the penalty area in what seemed like only a handful of strides.
The only thing missing was the finish; the illusion broken as Hojlund fired straight at Lazio goalkeeper Ivan Provedel.
Not that Erling’s near-namesake and near-lookalike had to wait too much longer to score his fifth goal in just 10 Serie A starts, of course, showcasing predatory instincts Manchester City’s number nine would have been proud off to gobble up a far-post tap-in just 16 minutes later.
“He has very similar characteristics to Haaland. Not just his face!” Gasperini quips of his very own blonde bomber.
“He is so quick. He’s under 11 seconds over 100 metres and that’s not even trying very hard. Considering his height, he has a low centre of gravity and can move his legs very fast. I am convinced he’ll have a great career. He just gets stronger every day.”
Did Newcastle United miss out on the next Erling Haaland?
Just to add to the already-eerie similarities, Hojlund – like Haaland – made his name in Austria. While the latter ripped Bundesliga defences to shreds at Red Bull Salzburg, the former arrived in Bergamo after showcasing his talents at Sturm Graz.
According to The Athletic, Newcastle United ‘tracked’ the 20-year-old Denmark international before his £15 million switch to Serie A. in the space of just six months, meanwhile, Hojlund’s market value has more than doubled; Gazzetta dello Sport reporting that it would take bids in the region of £35 million to tempt Atalanta.
“One year ago, he defeated Tirol on his own with two wonderful goals,” recalls Sturm Graz coach Christian Ilzer (Cronache di Spogliatoio).
“Then he goes to the mixed area and says he looks like Erling Haaland; his model and reference together with Cristiano Ronaldo.”
“Hojlund has always been a self-confident boy. He even seems cocky if you don’t know him. He has flair, speed and an above average footballing intelligence.
“Someone with his qualities must aspire to become one of the best in the world.”
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